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Wildfire Safety
It's not a question of if, but when the next major wildland fire will occur. Through advance planning, understand ing and preparation, we can all be partners in the wildland fire solution. We hope you find these tips helpful in creating heightened awareness and a more fire-safe environment for you, your family and firefighters.
Ready Set Go from the International Fire Chiefs Association
American Red Cross Wildfire Preparedness
The following video series looks at the four essential steps to combating wildfires. Interviews of responders to the 2011 wildfires and video of those fires show viewers the importance of preventing wildfire. The series also highlights how homeowners and communities can prepare for when a wildfire occurs and how they can better respond and recover from wildfire.
Wildfire Preparedness Check List
The more "yes" answers you have, the more prepared you are in the event of a wildfire threat.
- Fire-resistant roof i.e. metal, tile, composition
- Non-flammable siding materials
- Home is located down-slope
- Wooden deck facing or overhanging level ground
- Large glass windows, facing level ground
- Deck, porch, vents or house screened to keep sparks out
- Chimney extending above the roofline
- Chimney spark arrester in place
- Roof and gutters clean of debris
- A fire defensible space (D-space) zone of 30 to 100 feet
- Adequate clearance of weeds, tall grasses, and brush
- Leaves raked
- Trees pruned 10 feet up from the base of the trunk
- Debris cleared from beneath trees and near structures
- Tree limbs pruned at least 10 feet from the roof
- Tree limbs pruned 15 feet laterally from the chimney
- House location or address clearly marked (5-inch numbers)
- Firewood and other combustibles stored at least 30 feet away from the house
- Small amounts of mulch used near wooden structures
- Road grade less than 15 % (not steep)
- Road wide and accommodating to two-way traffic
- Road straight with wide turns
- Large areas for vehicles to turn around
- Short driveway from the main road
- Multiple roads into and out of the developed area for safe and easy access and evacuation
- Home area level and easily plowed or raked for fire line
- Pressurized hydrants available
- Non-pressurized or dry hydrants available
- Water sources such as ponds or streams accessible
- Power lines buried and not susceptible to fire
- Well pumps maintained with uninterrupted electricity